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Jacobo, Duque Fitz-James

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameJacobo María del Pilar Carlos Manuel•Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó Portocarrero y Osorio
Used nameJacobo, Duque•Fitz-James
Born17 October 1878 in Madrid, Madrid (ESP)
Died24 September 1953 in Lausanne, Vaud (SUI)
Title(s)XVII Duque (Duke) de Alba de Tormes, 10th Duke (Duke) of Berwick, Duque (Duke) de Arjona, XVII Duque (Duke) de Huescar, X Duque (Duke) de Liria y Jérica, Duque (Duke) de Montoro, XIII Conde-Duque (Count-Duke) de Olivares, Marqués (Marquis) del Carpio, Conde (Count) de Baños, Conde (Count) de Lemos, Conde (Count) de Lerín, Conde (Count) de Miranda del Castanar, Conde (Count) de Monterrey, Conde (Count) de Osorno, Conde (Count) de Siruela, Condestable de Navarra, XI Marqués (Marquis) de la Algaba, Marqués (Marquis) de Andrade, Marqués (Marquis) de Ardales, Marqués (Marquis) de Ayala, XIII Marqués (Marquis) de Barcarrota, Marqués (Marquis) de Casarrubios del Monte, XVIII Marqués (Marquis) de Coria, Marqués (Marquis) de Eliche, Marqués (Marquis) de Fuentes de Valdepero, Marqués (Marquis) de Fuentiduena, Marqués (Marquis) de Galve, Marqués (Marquis) de los Gelves, Marquésv de Mirallo, Marqués (Marquis) de Modica, Marqués (Marquis) de la Mota, Marqués (Marquis) de Moya, Marqués (Marquis) de Osera, Marqués (Marquis) de Piedrahita, Marqués (Marquis) de Salvatierra, Marqués (Marquis) de San Esteban de Gormaz, Marqués (Marquis) de San Leonardo, Marqués (Marquis) de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Marqués (Marquis) de Sárria, Marqués (Marquis) de Tarazona, Marqués (Marquis) de Valdunquillo, Marqués (Marquis) de Villalba, Marqués (Marquis) de Villanueva del Fresno, Marqués (Marquis) de Villanueva del Río, 10th Earl of Tinmouth, Vizconde de la Calzada, 10th Baron of Bosworth, Caballero del Orden del Toisón de Oro
NOC Spain
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Jacobo Fitz-James, or more fully, Jacobo María del Pilar Carlos Manuel Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó Portocarrero y Osorio, came from a very noble Spanish family, and his full list of titles encompasses seven dukedoms, 14 marquisates, 20 countships, and 24 knighthoods. He was best known as Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba. For his many titles he also inherited huge amounts of land in Spain, along with several castles in many Spanish cities. He was a Knight of the illustrious Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1927, he was elected as Director of the traditional Real Academia de la Historia and held that office until 1953. In 1930 he was appointed Foreign Minister, and in 1931 became Minister of Education and later Minister of State. As a supporter of Generalissimo Francesco Franco, Fitz-James was appointed representative of the rebels to Great Britain in 1937. In 1939 he was officially approved as Ambassador to Great Britain, resigning from that post in 1945 in support of the royalists. After the proclamation of Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, they called upon all their supporters to resign from their post if appointed by Franco.

Fitz-James attended Beaumont College in England and earned a law degree at Madrid University. He was a solid polo player, winning a silver medal in polo at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. Fitz-James was co-opted onto the IOC in November 1924 but served for only 2½ years and never attended an IOC Session.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1920 Summer Olympics Polo ESP Jacobo, Duque Fitz-James
Polo, Men (Olympic) Spain 2 Silver

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
Member International Olympic Committee 1924—1927 ESP Jacobo, Duque Fitz-James

Olympic family relations

Special Notes